Joy S. Burns

Joy S. Burns’ interests and influence span several industries. Well known as the developer and president of the Burnsley Hotel in Denver and as a founding member of the Association of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, her positive influence on Denver tourism is nothing new. As chair of the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, she has been instrumental in the Colorado Convention Center’s expansion. In the finance world, she founded and served as director of the Women’s Bank, now Colorado Business Bank. As the only female gubernatorial appointee to the Metropolitan Football Stadium Board, Burns was dubbed the most powerful woman in Colorado sports. She was part-owner of the Colorado Xplosion women’s professional basketball team, was a former president of the University of Denver’s Pioneer Sportswomen, and was the president of the Sportswomen of Colorado Foundation. As a philanthropist, Burns helped shaped the University of Denver campus and has chaired the Board of Trustees. She was a founding member of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado and continued to be a force for positive change in the community. Joy passed away July 17, 2020.